What does "pollyanna" mean?

One who is persistently cheerful and optimistic, even when given cause not to be so.

Pollyanna

Common synonyms include: aspirant, aspirer, chiliast, daydreamer, fictional heroine, fictional protagonist.

/ˌpɒliˈænə/ name, noun, slang

name, noun, slang ·Moderate ·College level

Noun

1
One who is persistently cheerful and optimistic, even when given cause not to be so.
"You call her an optimist, but I call her an obnoxious Pollyanna."
2
A secret Santa gift exchange. Mid-Atlantic, Pennsylvania, Southeastern, US, colloquial
3
Alternative form of Pollyanna. alt-of, alternative

Proper Noun

1
A female given name from Hebrew derived from Polly and Anna; rare in the real world.
"Pollyanna Pocket was small, with long floppy ears and a tail that coiled upwards in a little ringlet. She was a bouncy, happy young dog, who frolicked all day"

"I think Mary is a bit of a Pollyanna."

Etymology 1

From Polly + Anna.

Etymology 2

From the name of the protagonist in the 1913 novel Pollyanna, by Eleanor Porter.